In the Republican Primary, the Advance endorses Dan Donovan (editorial)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Normally, the Advance does not endorse in political party primaries, respecting the independence of the party faithful and their decisions as to who should represent them in a general election.

However, every once in a while there is a primary fight that is out of the ordinary.

Last we recall was 2004 when longtime Assembly member Robert Straniere squared off against GOP Party nominee Vincent Ignizio and former Borough President Guy Molinari's man, Mario Bruno, for Mr. Straniere's seat in the state Assembly. In that race, on the South Shore, we felt the winner of the primary was guaranteed a win in the general election.

That proved true when Mr. Ignizio went on to win the primary and the general.

Not surprisingly in this era of out-of-the-ordinary phenomena on America's political landscape, we have something of an extraordinary race going on within the Republican Party for Staten Island's congressional seat, which is also shared by a slice of Brooklyn.

Current Congressman Dan Donovan, the party's nominee, is challenged by former Congressman Michael Grimm, the man who resigned the same congressional seat after pleading guilty to tax fraud and serving seven months of an eight-month federal prison sentence.

For us, there is no question: Dan Donovan deserves to be the Republican nominee. He has served Staten Island with distinction and sensitivity, despite accusations to the contrary tossed about by Mr. Grimm. And Mr. Donovan's service is not only tied to Congress. He served Staten Islanders as deputy borough president, and then district attorney.

Despite all the rhetoric, the race has boiled down to President Donald Trump and who can work with him best.

Since Day One of his Second Coming, Mr. Grimm boasted that he and the president are in lockstep. He was never able to garner the president's attention, it seemed, but did manage to sidle up with Trump allies Steve Bannon and Anthony Scaramucci -- both hired and fired by the president. In fact, Mr. Trump admired Mr. Scaramucci's work so much, he fired him within a week.

Then, in what many considered a political bombshell dropped on the Grimm campaign, the man Mr. Grimm boasted could only work with him endorsed Mr. Dononvan -- in glowing terms.

"There is no one better to represent the people of N.Y. and Staten Island (a place I know very well) than @RepDanDonovan, who is strong on Borders & Crime, loves our Military & our Vets, voted for Tax Cuts and is helping me to Make America Great Again," Mr. Trump tweeted. "Dan has my full endorsement!"

In addition to thinking he was the best man to work with Mr. Trump, Mr. Grimm is focusing his campaign on three issues: Mr. Donovan's refusal to vote with Mr. Trump on Obamacare repeal, the tax bill and slashing federal aid to sanctuary cities.

Obamacare and the tax bill are such complicated issues, we doubt many voters comprehend them fully. Punishing sanctuary cities is more straightforward.

Mr. Grimm maintains he would have stood by the president on each bill. Mr. Donovan maintained he did not because he felt the bills would be bad for the people of Staten Island, Brooklyn -- and really, all of New York.

In a nutshell, on Obamacare, the congressman said older Americans would see a 25 percent increase in their insurance premiums, New Yorkers appeared ineligible for tax credits because state insurance plans must cover abortions, four hospitals in his district would lose federal funds, and a Medicaid provision would have saved counties all over the state money but excluded New York City.

On the tax bill, Mr. Donovan objected to losing state and local tax deductions and while the plan says taxpayers can still claim a deduction for mortgage tax and charitable donations, he feared language requiring people to choose one or the other would be in the final bill.

Ironically, Long Island Republican Congressman Peter King -- a celebrated right-winger who has been around since the '70s -- voted NO with Mr. Donovan on two of the three -- the tax bill and Obamacare repeal.

That's the politics of it all. But what troubles us most is Mr. Grimm's manipulation of the facts, and the truth -- a man who feels whatever goes awry is someone else's fault.

In 2014, while Mr. Grimm was facing a 20-count indictment -- something he calls an "Obama Justice Department Witch-hunt" -- he pledged to the voters and the Advance Editorial Board that he would be found innocent of all accusations against him.

Within months after he was first elected, it seemed, there were accusations of wrongdoing swirling around him. The New York Times churned out story after story alleging irregular fundraising tactics and when they did not materialize, it was alleged he hid more than a million dollars in sales taxes and wages at a restaurant in which he was partner.

The voters placed their faith in Mr. Grimm -- many say "everyone" in the business world hires undocumented immigrants -- and the Advance endorsed him for reelection in a race with former City Councilman Domenic Recchia.

There is no doubt Mr. Grimm made an impact as a congressman. He was out front after Hurricane Sandy, both on the ground in Staten Island's East Shore neighborhoods and in Washington carrying a bill successfully that helped Sandy victims with flood insurance.

Perhaps his "in-your-face" style doesn't appeal to everyone -- just ask the reporter who thought he was about to sail off a balcony -- but it appeals to many on Staten Island, if you believe the polls.

Although there are dueling polls out there for Mr. Donovan and Mr. Grimm, the latest NY1/Sienna poll had Mr. Grimm ahead by 10 points. There is, however, some debate on when that poll was taken -- before, during or after Mr. Trump's Twitter bombshell.

But the Advance did encourage voters to send Mr. Grimm back to Congress in 2014 despite the cloud of a federal indictment hovering over him.

"On [Election Day] Mr. Grimm is still the best practical choice for Staten Island," read the editorial on Oct. 30, 2014. "Our system of justice calls for us to wait ... when he faces trial, to discover the rightness or wrongness of that decision."

On Dec. 22, 2014 -- just 53 days later -- Mr. Grimm pleaded guiltily to one count of felony tax fraud.

"What is your plea to count four of the indictment, guilty or not guilty," the judge asked.

"Guilty," Mr. Grimm replied.

"While operating a restaurant we underestimated the gross receipts, used some of that money to pay employees off the books, as well as to pay other expenses of the restaurant," he said.

There is no doubt many businesses hire undocumented immigrants. By extension, they too are hiding money.

But that does not make it OK. And that does not make it OK for a candidate to lie to the electorate in his quest to hold on to his congressional seat.

Voters of all stripes should find that behavior troubling.

Mr. Grimm might be correct when he insists he was the victim of a "witch-hunt." But let us not forget there was something to hunt down. He suggests he is the only person in America who was jailed for hiring undocumented instead of facing a civil penalty. Again, perhaps true.

But he did it. He pleaded guilty. The Obama administration did not make it up.

We should hold the people in whom we place our trust to lead our nation to the highest level. Admittedly, it doesn't always happen. Lately, we might go as far to say it rarely happens. Look north to Albany.

Voters have an opportunity in the upcoming Republican Primary on June 26.

We discovered the wrongness of our decision in 2014. Let's not make that mistake again.

Dan Donovan has represented our community with honor and integrity. That is what the Republican Party deserves. Mr. Donovan is a good man. He deserves Staten Island Republicans' support.